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Thread: Brainteaser

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    1. Write the Roman-numeral equation below on a separate piece of paper.

    2. Turn the incorrect equation, made out of ten sticks, into a correct one by moving as few sticks as possible.

    XI + I = X

    The winner gets a free beer.

    <font color="#a52a2a" size="1">[ November 12, 2004 01:56 PM: Message edited by: reason ]</font>

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    X + I = XI

    Guiness, please. On tap. In Ireland.

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    That's the answer I got. But it's the wrong one. This is an exercise in thinking outside the box; doing things a different way.

    I stress the importance of writing on a separate piece of paper.

    The answer, btw, is on page B1 of today's Wall Street Journal.

    <font color="#a52a2a" size="1">[ November 12, 2004 02:06 PM: Message edited by: reason ]</font>

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    I'll up the prize to a six pack of Guiness.

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    This is like those stupid ass SAT questions. The answer IS right, but it's not the answer the questioner is looking for!!

    You still owe me a beer because at least I tried!

    And to think I used to know the answer to this... it was one of my father's favorite bar games.

    XI = X + I

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    Originally posted by gae:
    This is like those stupid ass SAT questions. The answer IS right, but it's not the answer the questioner is looking for!!

    You still owe me a beer because at least I tried!

    And to think I used to know the answer to this... it was one of my father's favorite bar games.

    XI = X + I
    <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">gae...turn your paper upside down.

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    Inactive Member Dulcinea's Avatar
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    in under 5 seconds (AFTER) writing it down and yes, that helped.......

    remove the vertical from the plus sign

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    Originally posted by Aurora Leigh:
    in under 5 seconds (AFTER) writing it down and yes, that helped.......

    remove the vertical from the plus sign
    <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Ok...I'll buy you both a beer. Though the intended answer was to turn the equation upside down - without moving a single stick - and you get:

    X = I + IX

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    Apparently this little exercise didn't translate well here, but I appreciate the participation.

    It kind of reminds me of my company's weekly "Quickie Quiz" that comes out late Friday afternoon. It was my goal win everyone in my department a Quickie Quiz cozy cup. So you can imagine how pushy I was when my correct answer wasn't exactly what they were looking for.

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    gae...turn your paper upside down.
    <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I don't care if you buy me a beer or not, your response made me think back to when Bob and I were looking for a house.

    He had some kind of map program on his laptop, and I remember (being a paper map person) driving around Hyde Park, turning the laptop upside down to orient myself.

    Don't tell him you heard it from me, OK?

    AL should not be permitted to play these games. She's too smart for her own good. Not to mention that time machine she has.

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